Baker Center Introduces Innovation Grant Winners

The Baker Center for Leadership & Governance, a major center at Georgetown within the Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Policy, today announced five students as recipients of the Baker Innovation Grant (BIG) to support the development of their ideas to solve pressing global policy challenges.

Christian Conroy (MPP/MSFS ‘18), will work on a redistricting project around developing stronger quantitative measures for drawing fair districts and creating a website that serves to increase transparency.

Jacob Ford (MPP ‘18), will focus on job and income security in economically disadvantaged areas, providing an 'internship bank' where students will be able to search and apply for jobs in their field of interest.

Rebecca Gerr (MPP/MBA ‘18), plans to develop a community-based program that will strengthen participants’ ability to make a variety of well-informed healthcare decisions.

Kelley Schneider (MPP ‘18), will focus on addressing increased political polarization by bringing together communities to reduce partisan anxiety and promote a sense of security.

Big Ideas Into Action

The Baker Innovation Grant, one of the largest grant programs at the McCourt School, invests in the next generation of leaders to think about solutions in bold, new, creative ways; leaders who will turn big ideas into action.

The students will receive $20,000 in seed capital and spend the next year incubating their solution to a policy or political problem around the theme of “security.” They will receive mentorship and support, and their yearlong exploration will culminate in a presentation of their ideas and proposed solutions at the 2018 Baker Forum.

The 2017 Baker Innovators and their projects were formally announced at the inaugural Baker Forum, held on January 25, 2017 at the historic Halcyon House in Georgetown.

Inspiring a New Generation of Leaders

The Baker Center for Leadership & Governance brings together stakeholders from government, business, nonprofits, academia, and faith-based institutions to tackle a global policy challenge and begin the important work of restoring faith in our institutions.

The Baker Center serves as a conduit between society’s core institutions to promote civil dialogue and debate, spur creative thinking and imagination, and inspire a new generation of leadership.